A Donald Trump administration advertisement has landed in a legal dispute after singer-songwriter JMSN’s team objected to the use of his song Love Me. The lawyers argue that the White House used the track in a political message without permission and now want the song pulled from the campaign-style spot.
JMSN’s lawyers demand the White House stop using his song in the Trump administration ad
The ad, which first aired on Fox News last week, places JMSN’s repeated “love me” lyrics over images of flags and Donald Trump. The spot also features Trump promoting tax cuts, “law and order” and anti-communist views, creating the political setting that JMSN’s representatives say falsely connects the musician with the administration (via The Daily Beast).
JMSN’s attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. They are demanding that officials remove Love Me from the advertisement and stop using it across television, websites, and social media. The letter also seeks written confirmation by 5 p.m. ET on Thursday that the alleged infringement has ended.
JMSN’s attorneys argue that the ad could violate the Lanham Act by making audiences think he endorsed Trump or was affiliated with his administration. The letter also says such an association could undermine the singer’s “artistic independence and integrity.”
JMSN, whose birth name is Christian Berishaj, later weighed in on Instagram. He said politics would never be a reason for him to license his music. In his account, Trump’s team could have asked for permission and been turned down, or skipped the request altogether. He claims they “Obviously went the second way.”
The JMSN controversy centers on one of three taxpayer-funded ads rolled out by the Trump administration ahead of the midterm elections. AdImpact estimated that more than $2.5 million had been spent on the three ads over the previous seven days. The advertisements have also drawn criticism from Republicans. Outgoing North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis told NBC News that he disliked their messaging and compared their tone to Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán’s political messaging.
